16:19
8.4.2014
BREAKING: Russia's Foreign Ministry says Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, has discussed the Ukraine crisis with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton by telephone.
16:21
8.4.2014
More from our news desk on the developing situation in Luhansk.
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) says pro-Russian separatists have placed explosives in an SBU building they seized in the eastern city of Luhansk and are holding around 60 people against their will.
The SBU on April 8 posted a statement on its website saying its counterterrorist units were trying to convince the separatists to free the captives.
The SBU said it has called on the separatists to lay down their arms and come out peacefully.
The statement accused the separatists of using "terrorist measures."
Ukraine says the building was seized by armed pro-Russian protesters on April 6 when pro-Russian protesters also seized government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian authorities on April 8 regained control over the regional government building in Kharkiv.
The SBU on April 8 posted a statement on its website saying its counterterrorist units were trying to convince the separatists to free the captives.
The SBU said it has called on the separatists to lay down their arms and come out peacefully.
The statement accused the separatists of using "terrorist measures."
Ukraine says the building was seized by armed pro-Russian protesters on April 6 when pro-Russian protesters also seized government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk and Kharkiv.
Ukrainian authorities on April 8 regained control over the regional government building in Kharkiv.
16:40
8.4.2014
News desk fleshing out a bit Russian Foreign Ministry statement:
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton have discussed possible international efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine crisis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in a telephone conversation on April 8, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's proposal for "an authentic Ukraine-wide dialogue involving all political forces and regions" aimed at reaching agreement on constitutional reforms.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that in a telephone conversation on April 8, Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's proposal for "an authentic Ukraine-wide dialogue involving all political forces and regions" aimed at reaching agreement on constitutional reforms.
16:53
8.4.2014
Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) is saying that pro-Russian separatists have placed explosives in an SBU building they seized in the eastern city of Luhansk and that they are holding around 60 people hostage.
Now, Reuters is reporting that one of the pro-Russian occupants of the building who gave his name as "Anton" has denied his group rigged explosives in the building or was holding hostages.
Now, Reuters is reporting that one of the pro-Russian occupants of the building who gave his name as "Anton" has denied his group rigged explosives in the building or was holding hostages.
17:19
8.4.2014
18:50
8.4.2014
19:00
8.4.2014
05:17
9.4.2014
The standoff in Luhansk appears to be ending. From our news desk:
Ukraine's state security service, the SBU, says more than 50 people have left a state security service building that had been seized by pro-Russia activists in eastern Ukraine.
On April 8, the SBU said that the protesters who seized the local headquarters of state security in Luhansk on April 6 had wired it with explosives and were holding 60 people hostage, though this was denied by the protesters themselves.
Early on April 9, the SBU said that 51 people had left the building without arms. It was unclear if they were protesters or hostages.
Interfax news agency later put this number at 56 and said negotiations were continuing between the protesters and local officials to end the occupation.
On April 8, the SBU said that the protesters who seized the local headquarters of state security in Luhansk on April 6 had wired it with explosives and were holding 60 people hostage, though this was denied by the protesters themselves.
Early on April 9, the SBU said that 51 people had left the building without arms. It was unclear if they were protesters or hostages.
Interfax news agency later put this number at 56 and said negotiations were continuing between the protesters and local officials to end the occupation.
06:11
9.4.2014
06:29
9.4.2014